Art of and apparatus for ventilation



Oct. 15, 1929. R. s. BLAIR ART OF AND APPARATUS FOR- VENTILATION Original Filed April 26, 1923 IN VEN TOR Patented Oct. 15, 1929 barren STATES PATENT OFFIQE ART OF AND APPARATUSFOR VENTILATION Application filed April 26,1923, Serial No. 634,684. Renewed. March 14, 1929.

This invention relates to ventilation, and with regard to its more specific features to the ventilation of tunnels and the like.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a system of ventilation eilicient and dependable and well adapted to meet the requirements of practical use. Another object is to provide apparatus for tunnel ventilation which is capable of maintaining the atmosphere within the tunnel in a fresh, clean condition. An-

other object is toprovide such an apparatus which is simply installed and capable of ineX- pensive operation. Another object is to provide a simple and practical art whereby tunnel ventilation is effectively and reliably accomplished. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinationsof elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be inclicated in the following claims. I

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation; and

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1, viewed in'the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there are shown the walls 10 of a tunnel substantially circular in cross section, for example of a vehicular tunnel or the like. EX- tending between the lower portions of the Walls 10 is a horizontal flooring or road-bed 11 spaced from the bottom portion ofthe wall 10 and extending longitudinally throughout the length of the tunnel. Similarly positioned between the top portions of the walls 10 is a partition or wall 12. The space 14 thus forms the main or body portion of the tunnel providing a passageway with ample clearance for the passage of vehicles or other conveyances proceeding along the floor or road-bed 11. A passageway 15 is also pro vided between the wall 12 and the top portion of the outer wall 10, and likewise a passageway 16 is provided below the road-bed 11.

Preferably positioned at intervals along the wall or partition 12 are a plurality of openings or passages 17 placing the passageway 15 in communication with the main tunnel passage 14. In each of the passages 17 is positioned a ventilating fan 18 of any desired type adapted to draw air from the main tun nel passage 14 into the passageway 15, each fan 18 being preferably driven by an electric motor 19 and supported by. any suitable means, such as brackets 20. Positioned at intervals along the passageway 15 are fans 21 of any suitable type, each preferably driven by an electric motor 22 and mounted by means of suitable supports 23. The fans 21 are preferably positioned to impel air along the passageway 15 toward each end thereof; that is, the fans 21 to the right of the central portion of the tunnel force air toward the righthand end of the passageway 15, and those to left of the central portion force air toward the left-hand end of the passageway 15, as viewed in Fig. 1. The ends of the passageway 15 are preferably provided with upwardly directed conduits 23 adapted to direct the air discharged therefrom in an upwardly direction away from the open ends of the main tunnel passage 14.

The open ends of the tunnel 14 provide for the admission of fresh air along the tunnel. Also adjacent the open ends of the lower passageway 16 are provided fans 24 preferably driven by motors 25 and mounted in suitable suppors 26, which fans are adapted to draw fresh air into the passageway 16. The flooring or the road-bed 11 is provided at intervals along its length with suitable openings or perforations 27 permitting the passage of the air from the passageway 16 to the tunnel 14.

Fresh air entering at either end of the main tunnel passage 14 circulates toward. the central portion thereof and upon being contaminated or fouled therein is drawn into the passageway 15 by the fans 18 and thence expelled 109 outwardly by the fans 21 through the end conduits 23. The openings 17 and the fans therefor adjacent the central portion of the tunnel are preferably of greater capacity than those adjacent the ends, their size being preferably increased progressively from the ends to the center of the tunnel, as shown in Fig. 1. In this manner the fresh air is not all removed by the fans nearest the open ends of the tunnels but is permitted to move inwardly to replace the foul air drawn out adjacent the center of the tunnel. The passageway 16, as hereinbefore described, provides a further supply of fresh air for the tunnel 14. The openings 27 in the flooring or road-bed 11 preferably increase in size toward the center of the tunnel to permit an even distribution of the air from the passageway 16 throughout the tunnel 14s.

The atmosphere of a tunnel may become contaminated by gases some of which are light tending to rise to the upper portions of the tunnel, and some of which are heavier tending to settle to the lower portions of the tunnel. For example, if the tunnel is utilized by automobiles the exhaust therefrom may comprise a quantity of carbon monoxide and a quantity of carbon dioxide, or other heavier gases. The relatively light carbon monoxide tends to rise to the top of the tunnel and is readily drawn out by the fans 18 and discharged from the passage 15. The relatively heavier gases, such as carbon dioxide, however, tend to settle to the bottom of the tunnel and may result in an ol'ijectionable contamination of the air therein.

Beneath the flooring or road-bed 11 are positioned compartments 30 in communication with the main tunnel passage 14 by means of suitable perforations or gratings 31. From each of the compartn'ients 30 extends a conduit 32 passing upwardly along the side wall of the tunnel and terminating in the upper passage 15, thus placing the compartments 30 in communication with the passageway 15, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. As is shown in Fig. 3, the conduits 32 preferably terminate in end portions 32 which are directed in the direction of the current of air impelled along the passageway by the fans 21 adjacent thereto.

Relatively heavy gases, such as carbon dioxide, tending to settle in the bottom portion of the tunnel, pass through the gratings 31 and into the compartments 30. The current of air impelled by the fans 21 in the passageway 15 passing by the open ends of the conduits 32 brings about an ejector action which sucks the gases from the compartments through the conduits 32 and into the discharge passageway 15. T is ends 32 are preferably shaped substantially as shown in Fig 3 in order to facilitate the ejector action. The gases discharged from the conduits 32 thus join the foul air or gases discharged from the fans 18 and pass outwardly therewith through the end conduits 23.

From the above it will be seen that there is provided a means whereby the foul air is dependably removed from all parts of the tunnel and continually replaced by fresh air, thus insuring at all times a clean atmosphere therein.

As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invent-ion, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1 claim as my invention:

1.- In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, driven means acting at intervals along a tunnel intermediate its ends adapted to discharge air therefrom, said means acting adjacent the central portion of said tunnel being of greater discharge capacity than said means acting adjacent the ends thereof, and a common passage into which saidv air is discharged adapted to lead said air to discharge exterior of said tunnel.

2. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a passageway extending longitudinally along a tunnel and separate therefrom, means positioned at intervals along said passageway adapted to force air from said tunnel thereinto, said means adjacent the central portion of the tunnel being of greater capacity than said means adjacent the ends thereof.

3. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a passageway extending longitudinally along a tunnel and having a plurality of spaced openings therein communicating with said tunnel, and fans in said openings adapted to draw air from said tunnel into said passageway, the fans adjacent the central portion of said tunnel being of greater capacity than those adjacent the ends thereof.

4. In apparatus of the general natureoof that herein described, in combination, a passageway extending longitudinally along a tunnel and having openings therein communicating with said tunnel, fans in said openings adapted to force air from said tunnel into said passageway, and fans in said passageway adapted to expel said air therefrom exterior of said tunnel.

5. In apparatus of the general nature .of that herein described, in combination with a tunnel open at its ends for entrance of fresh air, a passageway extending longitudinally of said tunnel, driven means spaced along said passageway adapted to expel said foul air from said passageway adjacent the ends of said tunnel and in a direction away therefrom.

6. The herein described art of ventilating tunnels and the like which consists in withdrawing foul air from the tunnel, impelling said air to discharge and dra ing additional foul air from said tunnel by ejector action of said foul air being discharged.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tunnel comprising an outer wall, a flooring extending longitudinally through said tunnel and spaced from the bottom portion of the wall thereof thereby providing an air passage beneath said flooring, an upper partition extending longitudinally through said tunnel and spaced from the top portion of the wall thereof thereby providing an air passage above said partition, means adapted to force fresh air into said first air passage, said flooring and said partition having openings therethrough whereby said air flows from said first air passage upwardly through said tunnel and toward said second air passage, driven means spaced along said second passage adapted to draw air upwardly from said tunnel into said second passage, and means for discharging air from said second passage in a direction away from said tunnel.

8. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tunnel comprising an outer wall, a flooring extending longitudinally through said tunnel and spaced from the bottom portion of the wall thereof thereby providing an air passage beneath said flooring,

an upper partition extending longitudinally through said tunnel and spaced from the top portion of the wall thereof thereby providing an air passage above said partition, means adapted to force fresh air into said first air passage, said flooring and said partition having openings therethrough, means for causing a flow of air from said first air passage upwardly through said tunnel and into said second air passage, and means adapted to collect heavy gases which settle about the surface of said flooring and deliver said heavy gases into said second passage.

9. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a passageway extending along the bottom of a tunnel, means for introducing fresh air into said passageway, means for introducing said air from said passageway into the bottom portion of said tunnel at intervals along said tunnel, a discharge passageway extending along an upper porion of said tunnel, means for admitting foul air from said tunnel to said last passageway at intervals along the tunnel, means at the bottom of the tunnel for the accumulation of heavy gases which settle toward the tunnel bottom, and means for discharging said heavy gases into said discharge passageway.

10. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a passageway extending along the bottom of a tunnel, means for introducing fresh air into said passageway, said passageway having openings at spaced intervals opening into the bottom portion of said tunnel for the passage of said fresh air into said tunnel, and means intermediate said open ings for removing heavy gases which tend to settle toward the bottom of the tunnel.

11. In apparatus of the class described, in combination,a passageway extending along the bottom of a tunnel, means for introducing fresh air into said passageway, said passageway having spaced openings opening into the bottom portion of said tunnel for passage into said tunnel of said fresh air, a discharge passageway extending along an upper portion of the tunnel, said discharge passageway having spaced openings for passage thereinto of foul air from said tunnel, means in the bottom portion of said tunnel intermediate said first openings for the collection of heavy gases which tend tosettle toward the bottom of the tunnel, and means for discharging said heavy gases from said last means into said discharge passageway.

12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a passageway extending along the bottom of a tunnel, means for introduc ing fresh air into said passageway, said passageway having spaced openings opening into the bottom portion of said tunnel for passage into said tunnel of said fresh air, a discharge passageway extending along an upper portion of the tunnel, said discharge passageway having spaced openings for passage thereinto of foul air from said tunnel, means in the bottom portion of said tunnel intermediate said first openings for the collection of heavy gases which tend to settle toward the bottom of the tunnel, and means adapted by ejector action to draw said heavy gases form said last means and discharge the same into said discharge passageway.

13. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a passageway extending longitudinally along a tunnel for the passage of foul air, means for forcing said foul air along said passageway to discharge exterior of said tunnel, and means spaced along said passageway comprising ejectors adapted by the movement of said foul air along said passageway to draw additional foul air from said tunnel into said passageway.

14:. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tunnel comprising an outer wall, a flooring extending longitudinally through said tunnel and spaced from the bottom portion of the wall thereof to provide an air passage beneath said flooring, an upper partition extending longitudinally through said tunnel and spaced from the top portion of the wall thereof to provide an air passage above said partition, means adapted to force fresh air into said bottom passage, said flooring having openings whereby said fresh air passes upwardly from said first passage into said tunnel, said upper passage being adapted for the passage of foul air to be discharged from said tunnel, means for drawing said foul air through said upper passage to discharge exterior of the tunnel, and means spaced along said upper passage comprising ejectors adapted to be actuated by the flow of foul air through said upper passage to draw additional foul air thereinto from said tunnel.

Intestiniony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 20th day of April 1923.

ROBERT S. BLAIR. 

